On Mondays we like to share a short format interview with one of our wider Gather community members. Just a handful of questions with a generous helping of everyday inspiration to tuck into over your morning cuppa. This week, meet Katherine.
Katherine Mora
"I am so grateful that this little girl dared to dream big and that her parents encouraged and supported her through this journey."
What part(s) of the world do you call home?
I call home two places: Costa Rica and the UK.
I was born and raised in Costa Rica. All of my family and most of my friends live there. That’s where I used to swim in the rivers and the beach, where I would go and cycle by the mountains and where this deep connection with nature was born. I go back there quite often.
One of my dreams as a kid was to travel around the world and meet new people, so being here in the UK brings huge happiness to my life. The UK is where I live, where I met my husband, where I continuously meet and connect with incredible people and where I am making amazing things happen.
What is your industry, hustle, current project or passion?
I am in the IT world, I am a data engineer. I am currently working with big data and cloud projects.
I have two main goals and passions that I am working on. One is to be a bridge between people and technology. There are many people with great ideas and a desire to progress their ideas but they are limited by their technical abilities. I want to be able to help and lead them through this journey using technology in a scalable and eco friendly fashion.
The second one is to use technology to protect and preserve the planet. I love nature and I want to combine my tech skills with sustainability and clean energy. With this in mind I am always looking for projects outside of my 9-to-5 where I am able to help people and support the environment.
What’s an important moment that signified a first step towards where you are today
I always remember when I was a young girl in school and high school constantly saying and thinking I wanted to travel the world, speak many languages, meet many people and work from anywhere.
I didn’t know what career path or actions would take me there but I somehow knew I could do it. There wasn’t a single moment or specific step, it was the accumulation of many things, and now here I am, doing all these things.
I am so grateful that this little girl dared to dream big and that her parents encouraged and supported her through this journey.
"I am proud to be able to use my skills and my gifts to bring value to people, to help them develop their ideas and to believe in them, especially when they were in a rough patch where it was hard for them to believe in themselves."
What is a moment you are proud of?
Again, there is not a specific moment or event that comes to mind but I am proud of being here in the UK, of being a woman in tech with a stronger voice and to experience tremendous growth in the last two years.
I am proud to be able to use my skills and my gifts to bring value to people, to help them develop their ideas and to believe in them, especially when they were in a rough patch where it was hard for them to believe in themselves.
What advice would you give your younger self today?
It would be many small pieces of advice.
You don’t need to know the ‘how you are going to make it’ in order to dream big. Speak it into existence, keep moving and be 1% better every day.
You can choose to see opportunities in everything that you do or that happens to you. Don’t let fear dictate your decisions. Life is short and ‘inconveniences’ are part of the journey.
Spend more time in nature.
In one word, what is the most important thing to you in life?
God.
I find peace, unconditional love, purpose and strength in Him. It’s a reminder that it is not about me, it is about something bigger.
Where can we find you?